Carton lining machine



1941- F. c. DRINKWATER 2,228,656

CARTON LINING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1958 INVENTOR Q *4 ATTO NEY Patented Jan. 14, 1941 g UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE CARTON LINING MACHINE Application November 15, 1938, Serial No. 240,486

Claims.

This invention relates to a container lining machine and more particularly to a carton lining machine.

The invention has for an object to provide 5 a container lining machine and particularly a carton lining machine of novel and improved construction and seeks to eliminate certain difficulties formerly encountered in prior machines of this character to insure positive seating of the lining in the container or carton.

With this object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the container lining machine, in the carton lining machine and in the various structures,

arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a suflicient portion of a carton lining machine to enable the present inventiomto be understood; Fig. 2 is a plan view in detail on an enlarged scale of a portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, to be referred to; and Fig.

3 is a detail in cross-section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

V In general, the present invention contemplates a novel container lining machine and particularly a novel carton lining machine of the type adapted to form a lining about a plunger or forming block and to insert the block with the lining into a container or carton and to thereafter withdraw the block depositing the lining in the container or carton. In prior carton lining machines, now upon the market, dimculty has been encountered in seating the lining to the full depth of the carton into which it was inserted. In practice, the forming block with its lining has been usually of a size in cross sectional area such as to fit snugly into the carton. When the plunger was suddenly inserted into the carton at the usual rate of speed for such lining machines (30 or more per minute) the air oftentimes became locked between the bottom of the carton and the bottom of the block, not having had suflicient time to escape between the sides of the lining and the carton. When it was attempted to force the block into the carton against a firm bottom support for the carton, the airpressure suddenly developed within the lining and carton oftentimes burst the carton in attempting to escape through the bottom of the latter. Various attempts have been made to permit the air to escape gradually between the sides of the carton and the lining in order to (01. sis-36.01)-

overcome this difficulty, none of which have been found practical.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for seating the lining to its full depth in the carton and for allowing ample time 5 for the air to escape between the lining and the carton while maintaining the lining machine in operation at a normal rate of speed. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, provision is made for yieldingly supporting the'bot- 10 tom of the carton in a raised position with relation to the downward limit of the plunger movement to the end that when the forming block with its lining is inserted into the carton, the pressure of the yielding support is maini5 tained during a part of the upward stroke of the block. Thus, in the event that the air between the bottom of the block and the carton has not fully escaped during the downward stroke of the block, the air may continue to20 escape during the upward stroke while the yielding support follows the block up. providing ample time for the air to fully escape leaving the lining in engagement with the bottom of the carton and permitting the block to withdraw freely. In 25 this manner the air is entirely expelled from between the bottom of the lining and the inside of the carton tending to retain the lining in contact with its carton when the block is withdrawn, and preventing the lining from being 30 withdrawn with the block.

Referring now to the drawing, the present invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine for lining cartons, and except as to such details as are hereinafter pointed out, the illus- 35 trated machine may comprise any of the usual forms of cartonlining machine's now upon the market. Reference is made to the United States patent to Hiller and'Joplin, No. 1,037,005, dated August 2'7, 1912, as disclosing the details of con- 40 struction and mode of operation of such prior art carton lining machines. Inasmuch as many portions of the carton lining machine of themselves constitute no part of the present invention, it has been deemed sufficient to illustrate 45 only sufficient portions of the carton lining machine as will enable the present invention to be understood.

As illustrated in the Hiller and Joplin patent above referred to, these prior art carton lining 50 machines are provided with means for feeding the lining from a continuous web 9 unwound from a supply roll I0 by feed rolls H, l2 and in the operation of the machine, the lining is cut off to the proper length by rotary knives l3 and 55 lxzsitioned beneath a plunger or forming block which are spaced apart suiilciently to permit the forming block to descend between them. As the forming block descends it carries down the lining blank between yieldingly mounted rollers i 4 which operate to fold the blank around and to hold it against the sides of the block l4. During its descent, the block with its lining blank thus turned up against its two opposite sides passes between two guide plates which keep the blank folded against the sides of the block while the extending sides of the blank are folded in against the ends of the block.

The folding of the side flaps maybe accomplished in the manner illustrated in the Killer and Joplin patent above referred to, while the forming block is supported in an intermediate position and as shown in said patent, two sets of folder plates are arranged to be swung toward each other and downwardly in vertical planes to engage the projecting side flaps and to fold them against the ends of the forming block. After the side flaps have thus been folded, the forming block is again caused to descend during which time the remaining projecting end tabs or bottom flap of the lining are folded upon the forming block and as the block continues to descend the block and the lining supported thereby are moved into a carton previously positioned beneath the block and thereafter the forming block is withdrawn, leaving the lining within thecarton.'

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the cartons 8 are received into the machine upon an incoming conveyor belt l4 the foremost carton coming to rest against a stop member 24 and in front of a pusher 22 which is operated through any suitable or preferred mechanism, not shown, to transfer the foremost carton in the line, across a bevelled bridge plate 24 and onto a yieldingly mounted supporting plate 24. The supporting plate 24 as herein illustrated is normally disposed at a slightly higher plane than the incoming belt l4 and the bridge plate 24 is arranged so that the carton will be raised from the level of the belt l4 onto the plate 24 during the transferring operation. The carton is received on the plate by an aligning and transferring member 24 which is adapted to position the carton directly beneath and in alignment with the forming block l4. The transfer member 24 may be of conventional form, having one of its sides 20 hinged to permit the carton to be released onto the outgoing conveyor belt 42 when the transfer member is moved laterally viewing Fig, 2, after the lining operation is completed. V

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the incoming and outgoing conveyors I4, 22 are preferably driven through connections, indicated generally at 24, from a main driving shaft 24 which may berotated in any usual or preferred manner. In the conventional form of lining machine illustrated, the forming block I4 is arranged to be vertically reciprocated in a guideway .formed in a bracket 24 attached to the machine frame. The forming block is reciprocated by a cam 40 in cooperation with a cam roller 42 carried by a cam lever 44 pivoted at 44 and which is connected to the stem 44 of the plunger by a link 50. The cam 40 is'mounted on a cam shaft 42 which is arranged to be rotated from the main driving shaft 24 through a pinion 44 and gear 44. Thus, the plunger or forming block I4 is caused to descend and ascend in timed relation The lining blank is supported on plates to the mechanism for feeding the sheets of lining material, for wrapping the sheet about the block to form a line, and for transferring and removing successive cartons into and from a position beneath and in alignment with the forming block.

As illustrated in Fig. 8. the bottom plate 24 is carried by a bracket 44, attached to the machine frame, and is yieldingly supported by coil springs 40 interposed between the plate and the bracket 44. The supporting plate 24 is guided vertically in the bracket 44 by depending studs 42 attached to the plate and about which the springs 44 are coiled. The studs 42 are slidingly received in holes provided in the bracket 44 and, as herein shown, the studs are provided with adjusting nuts 44 to limit the upward movement of the plate and to adiust the position of the latter with relation to the limit of the descent of the plunger l4.

From the description thus far, it will be observed that, in the operation of the machine, the carton is supported in a raised position with relation to the downward limit of the plunger stroke and that when the block, carrying its lin-v ing, is inserted into the carton, the plate 24 is permitted to yield suiiiciently to prevent the air locked between the lining and the carton from bursting the latter and allow the air to escape gradually between the sides and out through the top of the carton and the lining. It will also be seen that the pressure of the yielding plate 24 is maintained during a portion of the upward stroke of the block l4 so that excess air may have ample time to be completely expelled from the carton producing a lined carton in which the bottom of the lining is in contact with and fully seated upon the bottom of the carton.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocable forming block about which a lining is formed, means for reciprocating the forming block to insert the lining into a carton, said lining being of a size to flt snugly into the carton and a yieldable support for said carton adapted to yield under the influence of the air locked between the lining and the car-ton during the insertion of the block to permit the carton to descend with relation to the block, and to urge the carton upwardly against the bottom of the block and its lining to permit the air to escape between the sides of the carton and the lining.

2. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocable forming block about which a lining is formed, means for reciprocating the forming block to insert the lining into a carton disposed in alignment therewith, said lining being of a size to fit snugly into the carton and a yieldable support for the bottom of said carton, normally disposed in a raised position with relation to the limit of the inserting stroke of said fpmiing block, said support being adapted to yield under the influence of the air locked between the lining and the carton during theinsertion of the block to permit the carton to descend and to urge the carton upwardly against the bottom of the block during both the rest period and the first part of the withdrawal movement of the block thereby providing suflicient time to permit the locked air to escape between the sides of the carton and its snugly fitted lining.

3. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocable forming block about which a lining is formed, means for reciprocating the forming block to insert the lining into a carton disposed in alignment therewith, said lining being of a size to flt snugly into the carton, and a yieldable support for the bottom of said carton comprising a spring pressed plate normally disposed in a raised position with relation to the limit of the inserting stroke of said Iorm ing block, said support being adapted to yield under the influence of the air locked between the lining and the carton to permit the carton to descend during the insertion of the block and to gradually urge the carton upwardly against the bottom of theblock during both the rest period and the first part of the withdrawal movement of the block thereby providing suflicient time to permit the locked air to escape between the sides of the carton and its snugly fitted lining.

4. In a carton lining machine, in combination. a block for supporting a lining for the carton, a

support for the carton, means for relatively moving said block and said support to deposit the lining in the carton and to subsequently withdraw the block therefrom, said lining being of a size to fit snugly into the carton, said support being adapted to yield to permit the carton to move away from the block under the influence of the air locked between the lining and the carton during the insertion of the block and to gradually urge the carton against the block and the lining while the air escapes between the sides of the carton and the lining.

5. In a carton lining machine, in combination,

a block for supporting a lining for the carton, a support for the carton, means for relatively moving said block and said support to deposit the lining and the carton and to subsequently withdraw the block therefrom, said lining being of a size to fit snugly into the carton, and yielding means for gradually pressing the bottom of the carton against the bottom of the block thereby permitting the air locked between the lining and the carton during the inserting operation to gradually escape.

FRANK C. DRINKWATER. 

